How to Hunger for God Again - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - November 21
Devotional Verse: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6, NIV).
Years ago, I was involved in a ministry where we would fast and pray together for specific periods. One particular time, we spent a week fasting on liquids only, leading up to a significant ministry event we were attending. By the time we arrived at the event, I was so hungry and tired that I knew I needed to sleep or eat if I was going to have any energy to make it through the weekend. We all chose to break the fast together after seven days with a large meal together that satisfied my deep hunger. Next up for me was a long nap before we made our eight-hour drive back home. I don't remember ever feeling that weak in my body and mind. If my body weren't longing for rest or a meal after not eating for a week or getting much sleep because of travel, we would think there was something seriously wrong with my health. It is healthy for your body to hunger and desire rest; This means your body is working correctly.
This type of desperation for physical sustenance is a reflection of what our spiritual hunger for God's things should look like. When we can go days, weeks, or, God forbid, even months without reading the Bible or praying, and we don't find ourselves desiring to seek the Lord and His righteousness, we need to pause and ask ourselves why. As a believer, this should concern us.
Jesus gives us a promise in what is called "The Beatitudes" in the Sermon on the Mount regarding those who hunger for the things of God. When we pursue the Lord and His righteousness, we will never starve; God will fill us with His sustaining life:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6, NIV).
If we find ourselves no longer hungry for spiritual things, our spiritual health may be in great danger. We need to find out why we have stopped being hungry for pursuing God's Word and Kingdom pursuits. Have you stopped attending church or fellowshipping with other believers on a regular basis? Is your prayer routine on life support? If you are spiritually malnourished, it will begin to affect various areas of your life. We must abide in the Vine if we are going to bear fruit for Christ. Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). We must become desperate to remain connected to Christ and His Word; His Word is the Spirit and life. Jesus says that those who are hungry for the Lord use kingdom pursuits to fill us and sustain us. This type of hunger cannot be conjured up in our own strength. We cannot make ourselves hungry; We need God's help and supernatural grace. We need to ask the Lord to stir our hearts, making us hungry and thirsty again for Him, so that we can mature in the Lord and be filled with His abundant life, which can overflow to reach others for His glory.
Have you reached a point in your spiritual journey with God where you may have grown complacent? Do you find yourself lacking the desire to pray or read your Bible? Have you been very consistent with fellowshipping with other believers? The Lord will help you get rid of distractions in your life that may have kept you from Kingdom pursuits. Social media and other forms of entertainment can quickly become spiritual junk food that fails to nourish your soul truly. God will help you prioritize these things in your life so that He is your primary focus, if you ask Him. Jesus has promised to fill us up with His abundant life. Let us long to pursue God, praise Him, read His Word consistently, and stay committed to the local church so that we can walk on His path of righteousness and mature in Him.
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Related Resource: When God Feels Harsh or Distant: Gaining Peace Through Christ's Compassion
Many people know God is loving and kind—but struggle to feel or trust that love in their most wounded places. For those impacted by trauma, religious abuse, legalism, or deep loss, God can feel distant, harsh, or unsafe.
In this moving conversation, host Jennifer Slattery sits down with author Sherri Hughes Gregg to explore how Jesus consistently reveals Himself as tender, compassionate, and near to the brokenhearted. Together, Jennifer and Sherri model how we can wrestle respectfully with Scripture, release shame-laden interpretations, and encounter Christ as He truly is: the One who comforts, restores dignity, and brings beauty from ashes. If this episode helps you face fear with God's confidence, be sure to subscribe to Faith Over Fear on Apple or Spotify so you get new episodes every week!
